Canyons & Fireworks

What is a father? A protector? A leader? A provider? A teacher? On Father's day Sean Smith said from the pulpit, "We all need sanctuary and it is more than a building. It is a safe place."  We live in a world with fewer and fewer safe places and, less and less fathers.  When men are absent from the home a level of safety is lost. Worse yet, if a father brings violence in, the family is doubly violated.  The Apostle Paul was a part of a violent system but God called him to face that very system. Paul was the forerunner missionary in confronting what was attacking the children of God the most at the time: the oppressive system of religion.  Today, American Christians do not experience religious persecution like in the days of the coliseums. Children are more likely to get exposed to abuse at home.  People who have walked through trauma and into healing can provide a higher level of safety for those who have suffered similar traumas.   I believe there is ...

According to Matthew 18, unless we change and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. What does faith like a child really mean? I was recently spending some time with the Lord when I saw a vivid picture of the Throne Room of Heaven. God was huge and seated on a massive thrown. I was happy at His feet but wanted to sit on His lap. After climbing up, I stood on His knees and touched my forehead to His forehead.  Instantly, I was back to being a small child and felt pure trust and absolute protection. I also felt power, extreme power like I have not felt. When I came out of the encounter, it hit me. Having faith like a child takes the intimacy of father and child. The tender image of touching our foreheads together evokes a strong standard. How is your intimacy with the Father? What about with your earthly father? Could one relationship be hindering the other? 

Attachment, like most matters of the heart, is a complex affair. Some days the capacity for deep healing is not available.   If avoidant attachment has hit a suppressive level, withdrawal has most likely become a habit. Habits make it easy to lose touch with what is within your control.  One doable step toward secure attachment is simply starting to recognize when shutting down begins to occur. Awareness of a pattern is the first step in giving yourself another option.  Once you Identify a tendency of detachment, you can then consciously stop yourself from disengaging by default. You can take a moment to evaluate if you feel safe enough to remain engaged, thus breaking the cycle and offering yourself a choice. Take a deep breath, slow down, and give yourself the chance to connect with others.